Best Pool Entrances

Imagine this:

You show up to the party fashionably late. People are already in the pool talking and laughing, but they notice you have arrived, and they go wild. They are so excited to see that you showed up and you feel like an A-list celebrity. So, you set your stuff down and jump in the pool with everyone… That’s not how an A-list celebrity responds to a roaring crowd. You don’t just “jump in the pool”, you have to enter in style.

So, what magnificent stunt are you going to pull? Don’t worry, I took the liberty of creating a list of the top pool entrances to satisfy your friends and family.

The Dive

This one might be overdone, but it’s so elegant if done properly. The basic dive will make all men and women look like mermen and mermaids. You’ll be seen as someone who values tradition, strength, and integrity. A few notes when performing your dive: Make sure your dive gets some good height; a dive without height is like a cake without icing. More height also gives you more potential to cut through the water and create a smaller splash.

Also, make sure to keep your legs straight when your body enters the water. A common mistake in the diving technique is to let your legs flop, creating a large splash and a less impressive dive. Remember that the dive is finished until you are COMPLETELY in the water. Lastly, be sure you have enough clearance under the water to dive safely and not hit your head. That would be embarrassing.

The Front Flip

The front flip is a fan favorite. It is sure to get approval from the crowd and give everyone the impression that you are quite the athlete and one of core strength. Make sure you jump out from the ledge you are jumping off; failing to do so could result in a mean head/back injury. Also, make sure you emphasize your tuck while you are flipping. Physics tells us that because of torque, you will spin faster if you tuck in more, so tuck your arms and legs in to spin quicker and complete your flip.

The Back Flip

Like the front flip, the backflip is sure to impress. Now it’s important to note that these flips could make people think you’re showing off, so be sure you know your audience and the vibe of the party. Again, make sure you dismount away from the ledge so you land in water and not concrete. And don’t forget to tuck!

The Cannon Ball

Bombs away! If your goal is to create as large a splash radius as possible, The Cannon Ball is the way to go. Simply jump off the ledge, bring your knees to your chest, and wrap your arms around them. You know you have good execution when you feel a strong pressure from the water around your neck once your head goes under. This is the water in the pool rushing to fill the space of the water you just sent flying. Just know before performing this stunt, you will splash some people, so again, know your audience.

The Can-Opener

Fire in the hole! The Can-Opener is similar to the Cannon Ball, but rather than creating a large splash radius, this dive focuses the water in a way that creates a tall splash. To execute, bring one knee up to your chest and hold it with your arms. Then, extend your other leg and lean back slightly so that you enter at an angle. This dive is a little trickier to master and takes some fiddling with the technique to perfect.

The Flying Squirrel

The Flying Squirrel… a very hard dive to master. This dive requires a headfirst dive with your hands and arms cocked back grabbing your feet. This dive is a very funny but also impressive dive to bring to the table and will be a great conversation piece when you come up for air. This dive is hard for those with the mental block of diving headfirst without your hands out front. But, if you can overcome it, the outcome is rewarding. Once again, be sure you have enough clearance under the water to dive safely and not hit your head.

The Watermelon

The Watermelon is very similar to the Flying Squirrel; the difference is you tuck in instead of grabbing your feet. It’s essentially an upside-down Cannonball, and it’s very funny. This dive will get you lots of laughs and lighten up the mood of the party.

The Gainer

The gainer is the ultimate pool entrance. It has the perfect amount of fun, muscle, athleticism, and profoundness. The Gainer is executed by jumping out facing forward but rotating backward into either a dive or a backflip. It is also very dangerous because it is hard to jump out and also rotate backward without hitting your head on the edge. It is for this reason that a lot of public pools won’t even let you attempt one, so you have to be cautious. But, if the rules allow, and you feel confident in your diving ability, the Gainer is one of the best pool entrances one can perform.

I hope this helped give you some ideas and pointers for how to enter a pool as summer approaches. If you haven’t heard of any of these, I urge you to try some of them and see which ones you like! You never know what you may be good at. Just be sure when executing any of these dives that you use proper caution. Other than that, I urge you to dive in and cool off!

Be well, Auburn.